Bivol's manager discussed changing weight after the fight with Beterbiev

MOSCOW, June 6, Ivan Orekhov. Manager of the world champion versions of the World Boxing Association (WBA Super) and the International Boxing Organization (IBO) in the light heavyweight division of Dmitry Bivol, Vadim Kornilov, in a conversation with a correspondent, admitted that the athlete could change the weight category after the fight with compatriot Artur Beterbiev, but added that representatives of the absolute world champion in Mexican second middleweight Saul Alvarez does not want them to meet again in the ring.
In May 2022, Bivol defeated Alvarez in Las Vegas by unanimous decision and inflicted the second defeat in his career on the Mexican.
«»It would be more priority to go down to the second middle weight category. But if Saul Alvarez is still the absolute champion there, then a repeat fight with the Mexican is not very interesting to the organizers, given how confidently Bivol won in the first meeting. If the situation is somehow will change, we (a drop in weight) would definitely be interested. A rematch with Alvarez could also be considered — it depends on those interested in the organization. I’m sure Alvarez’s side is not interested in a rematch. Before the two previous fights, they said that they want a rematch with Bivol. It’s no less than the third match they’ve taken on another opponent — if they wanted (to repeat), they would have contacted us to discuss. But I hear (about this) only from the press,” Kornilov said.
Kornilov also responded to the words of the Chairman of the General Directorate of Entertainment of Saudi Arabia, Turki Al ash-Sheikh, who stated his desire to organize fights with David Benavidez (USA) and Jay Opetaya (Australia) for Bivola. The manager noted that by 2025, when Bivol returns from the fight with Beterbiev, everything could change in the divisions, but added that Bivol is not too big to move up to cruiserweight.

Bivol on June 1 in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) was supposed to fight against the world champion according to the versions of the World Boxing Council (WBC), the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Arthur Beterbiev, but his opponent suffered a torn meniscus. The meeting was postponed to October 12.